Archery target making machine



Sept. 26, 1950 B. PEARSON ARCHERY TARGET MAKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 9, 1947 Sept. 26, 1950 Filed Jan. 9, 1947 B. PEARSON ARCHERYTARGET MAKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 if uz'enlar Sept. 26, 1950 B.PEARSON ARCHERY TARGET MAKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 9,1947 Inventor B670 Pearsow Sept. 26, 1950 B. PEARSON 2,523,632

ARCHERY TARGET MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 k)Inventor w 312% P ea/rsow Attarney Sept. 26, 1950 B. PEARSON ARCHERYTARGET MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 MW w 3) I A A.3 {W 4! 21 H. .72; \\\Q\\\\\\ Sept. 26, 1950 PEARSON 2,523,632

ARCHERY TARGET MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 1mmIIIIIIIIII III! Inventor Be 77/ Pearsvw Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,523,632 ARCHERY TARGET MAKING MACHINE BenPearson, Pine Bluff, Ark.

Application January 9, 194'7, Serial No. 721,079

My invention'relates to new and useful improvements in machines formaking archery targets. y I

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine for formingsuch targets of convolutions of fabric and straw wound with the strawcompressed and the convolutions tied together by sewing through thesame, all to the end of obviating manufacturing such targets solely byhand.

Other objects together with the advantages to be derived in the practiceof my invention will become apparent when the following description andclaims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and formingpart of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the needle-actuatingand. control mechanism. Figure 4 is a detail view of the thread-pullingand snubbing device for the needle drawn to a larger scale. I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the guide for the needle andcontrol means therefor drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the outer end of theneedle.

Figure 'l is a view in transverse section taken substantially on theline 1-! of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detail view in front elevation of the mandrel on which thetarget is wound drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in sideelevation of the arms for turningthe target.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in section through the target andshowing the needle feeding the thread therethrough. V

Figure 11 is a similar view showing the needle Claims. (Cl. 112-24) inits retracted position and with the threadengaging hook in position forpulling the thread through the target. g

Figure 12 is a similar view showing the snubber in use for tighteningthe thread.

Figure 13 is a similar view showing the thread wrapped over the outerconvolution of the tar get and engaged with the needle for continuing.the threading action.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of the strip of fabricforming a cover for the straw used in building the target.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the bracket for supporting the loopof thread in position for engagement by the thread-pulling hook.

Figure 16 is a view in verticaltransverse. section taken in'the linel6l6 of Figure 2 and drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 17 is a view in section taken in the. line I l-ll of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line l8l8 ofFigure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention,the numeral 5 designates a frame having a trough 6 supported thereonadapted to con tain straw l of a type generally employed for buildingarchery targets. At the front end of the frame 5 is an upstanding framestructure 8,

which includes a pair of spaced parallel, vertical frame members 8 ofchannel shape in cross-- section and forming guides in which the sideedges of a floating mandrel frame 9 are positioned for vertical slidingmovement.

A frame structure In projects laterally from one side of the frametadjacent the front end of said frame 5 for a purpose presently seen.

At the rear end of the frame 5 is rotatably supported a roll of burlapII or other fabric in strip form, the burlap extending forwardly alongthe bottom of the trough 6 with its free end clamped between thelongitudinally split mandrel I2 having its ends journaled in hinged hearing brackets i3 secured to the upright members 9 of the floating frameQ. The bearing brackets l3 are hingedin any suitable manner for openingto remove and replace the mandrel 12 for T a purposepresently seen.

Ono'ne end of the mandrel I2 is secured a ratchet it operatively engagedby a pawl 15 pivoted on an arm I6, one end of the arm bein pivotallysupported on the mandrel, and the other end of the arm having anactuatingrod ll" pivoted thereto. The actuating rod ll extendsrearwardly of the machine and has its rear end eccentrically connectedas at H to a Wheel 18 secured on a shaft l9 journaled on the upper edgesof the trough 6 and extending transversely thereof. The shaft [9 isdriven by means of a sprocket 2E! and chain 2! from a small sprocket 22secured on a shaft 23 journaled on the lower portion of the frame 5, theshaft 23 also having a large sprocket wheel 24 secured thereto, drivenby a chain 25 from a smaller sprocket 26 on a clutch device 21 alsojournaled on. the lower portion of the frame, the clutch deviceincluding a pulley 28 driven by a belt 29 from an electric motor 30. Theclutch device 2'! may be of any conventional type adapted to be engagedas by a pull chain 20. For exerting pull on the chain 26' a foot pedal2I is pivoted as at 22', on a post 23 on the frame and is operativelyconnected by a link 24' to one end of a rocker bar 25' pivoted as at 26'on an upright 21 on the frame 5, the other end of said rocker bar 25being operatively connected as at 28' to said chain 20.

An eccentric 3I is also secured on the shaft I9. Connected at its rearend to the eccentric 3I is a lower feed arm 33which is of a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the trough 6 and rests on top of thestraw I overlying the burlap I I in the trough 6 therein forreciprocation by the eccentric 3|. The connection between the feed arm33 and the eccentric 3| takes the form of a grooved cap bearing 29bolted together, as at 36, with the eccentric 3I rotatably confinedtherein and suspending the same, said lower feed ings I3, the sectionsof the split mandrel I2 may be separated for inserting the burlap I Itherebetween to be clamped by said sections.

The frame structure I0 includes an upper horizontally extendingchannel-shaped guide member 44 in which a needle-actuating block 45 isslidably positioned having one end of a needle 46 secured thereto, theneedle having a notch 41 at its outer end and being adapted to beadvanced and retracted transversely through the target, the notch 41serving to pull a sisal thread 48 through the target for tying theconvolutions I thereof together.

arm 33 being secured by screws 3| to thebottom:

of the bearing 29', as best shown in Figures 16 and 1'7, so that saidarm is swingable vertically about said eccentric with its front endadapted to rest, under the influence. of gravity, on the straw I in thebottom of the trough 6. As will be clear, the eccentric 3| is revolvedby the shaft I9 in the bearing 29' to. reciprocate said lower feed arm33 so that the front end of said arm 33 intermittently rams and packsstraw I between the lowermost completed convolution of the target beingformed and the succeeding one being wound on the completed one. The arm33 is inclined downwardly and forwardly in the trough G and adjacent itsfrontend is provided with a weight 34 adapted to cause said front end tocompressthe straw in the bottom of the trough 6 and'the front end of thearm. 33 is provided with a seriesiof upstanding, forwardly incliningspikes or teeth 35 adapted to engage the lowermost completed convolutionof the target 36 as the same is wound on. the" mandrel to thereby assistin rotating'the target. As will be-apparent from an inspection of Figure9 of the drawings, the teeth 35'are inclined in a direction to disengagethemselves upon a rearward movement of the arm 33. Forwardly anddownwardly inclined spikes 32 depend from the lowerfeed arm 33 along therear end portion thereof for feeding the straw I forwardly as said arm33 is reciprocated. The straw is thus fed on top of the burlap towardthe front end of the trough 6 to be-wound iniayers on the, mandrel I2.

An upper arm 31 (similar to the arm 33-) is also employed'for assistingin the rotation of the; tar,- get. The front end of the arm 31 isprovided with a hinged vertically swingable head 38thereon'jhavingdepending rearwardly inclined teeth 39-for engaging the 'upper edge ofthe target, the rear'end'ofxthe arm being hinged'as at 33' to the upperend of'an oscillating rod 46 pivoted intermediate its ends, asat M, toan upstanding support 42 on the-frame 5, thelower end of the rod beingpivotally connected as at 40' to a link 43pivota1ly connected as at 43'to the lower arm 33 whereby to provide asimultaneous operatingconnection between thearms'33 and3I arranged so that said arms areoppositely actuated.

As will be understood, the mandrel frame 9 rises as the convolutions ofstraw I and burlap II are wound on the mandrel I2 and the target is thusincreased in size, said target engaging the bottom of the trough 6 andthereby raising said frame. The winding operation is started with saidframe 9 lowered so that the mandrel I2 is spaced from the bottom of thetrough 6 by only the thickness of the front end of the burlap stripinserted in the mandrel. By opening the bear- The block 45 and needle 46are reciprocably actuated by means of a pitman rod 49 pivotallyconnected at one end to a pin 50 carried by the block 45, the other endof the pitman arm being pivotally connected, as at 5!, to one end oflinks 52 having its other endpivoted as at 53 to a part of the frame I6.The pitman rod 48- is of channel shape in cross-section and slidablymounted therein is a block 54 eccentrically connected to one face of apulley 55 driven by a belt 56 and a pulley 5'! from a transmission unit,designated generally at 58, supported .at the lower end of the framestructure I I]. The pin 50 is passed through a bushing 44 fixed in thepitman rod 49 and extending through a filler block 45' suitably fixed insaid rod 49. A roller 46 is provided on the outer end of said pin 56 fora-purpose presently seen. Suitable gaskets i'l, 48 are provided on thepin 56 between the bushing 44' and the block 45 and roller 46'. Thetransmission unit' 58 is driven by means of a pulley 59 and belt 66 froma motor 6|, mounted at an intermediate portion of the frame structureID. The transmission unit .58 preferably comprisesa. worm shaft 58' onwhich the pulley 59 is fixed and which drives worm gear 59 on acrossshaft'fill' onwhich the pul ey 51 is fixed.

The motor BI is controlled by a clutch device 62 which includes apivoted arm 63' having the lower end of a chain 64 attached'to the freeend of the arm, the chain having its upper end attached to an arm 65extending horizontally outwardly from a locking lever 66-pivoted at 6.'Iadjacent one end of the lever to the-frame structure I0, the leverhaving a notch 68 formed in its lower edge adapted for receiving theroller 46 on the pin 56 of the slide block 45 of theneedle-to stopoperation of said needle in aretracted position thereof.

Also attached to the lever 66, adjacent its free end, is a manuallycontrolled rod 69 which ex tends downwardly and has its lower endconnected to the rear end of a foot pedal ID. The pedal I0 is pivoted atII to the bottom portion of the frame structure Ill and is adapted,upon'a depressing movement of the outer end of the pedal to raise thelever 66 upwardly to disengagethe notch 68 from the pin50 and permitfree operation of the needle. A coil spring I2, also attached adjacentthe free end of the lever 66' assists in returning the same downwardlyfor engagement with the pin 56. An upward movement of the lever: 66 willalso'raise, the clutch control-lever 63 to engage the clutch and thusoperatively conheat the needle with the motor. A suitable guide 66' isprovided on the frame II! for the free end of the locking lever 66.

The needle 46 is threaded manually, in its'fully retracted position,with short lengths, successively, of thread 48 looped intermediate theends thereof, as shown in Figure 10, across. the needle through thenotch41. As the needle 46 advances;

.ure 13.

it thrusts the length of thread 48 thereon through the target in loopedform, as best shown in Figures. 10, 11 and 13, with the ends of thethread free on the near side of the target. At the 'end of the advancestroke of the needle 46, a loop of the thread 43 is formed. on the farside of' the target and left there, when the needle 46 is retracted, theloop resting on the upper edge, as shown at 13, of a V-shaped bracket 14and in position to be engaged by one of a plurality of traveling hooks25 carried on'an endless belt 16 traveling over pulleys ll, 18, asshownin Figure 11. The pulley H is fast on a shaft 19 driven bya pulley 80and belt 8! from an electric motor 82. The hook l5 engaging the loop 13of the thread 48 pulls the loop out and one end of the thread 48 throughthe target to fall off the hook, at which point said end is grasped bythe operator and manually wound under the lowermost convolution of thetarget and then threaded through the eyed! of the needle 46 to extendacross the retracted needle, all as shown in Figure 13, and bethrustinloop form through the target as the needle 45 again advances, to againleave a loop on the far side of the target to be pulled out by one ofthe hooks l5. Thus, the length of thread 48 is stitched around eachoutermost convolution of the target, as shown in Fig- As a stitch isthus formed, the end of the thread 48 pulled through the target by ahook 15 is manually wound around. a snubbing spool 83 fast on the shaft19 and held fast by hand, for an instant, so that by friction the stitchis pulled tight, after which the end is passed under the lowermost oroutermost convolution of the target to the near side and the needle 46threaded therewith as previously described. When one length of thread 48has become substantially used up, another length is tied thereto to bethreaded on the needle 46.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

1. A target making machine comprising afloating mandrel, means forfeeding layers of flexible material and loose stalk material to themandrel for winding thereon, and means engaging the wound layers torotate the same.

2. A target making machine comprising a floating mandrel, means forfeeding layers of flexible material and loose stalk material to themandrel for winding thereon to form a target, and means engaging theouter periphery of the target to rotate the same.

3. A target making machine comprising a floating mandrel, means forfeeding layers of flexible material and loose stalk material to themandrel for winding thereon to form a target, and means engaging theouter periphery of the target to rotate the same, said last-named meansbeing movable radially with respect to the target in accordance withvariations in the diameter thereof.

4. A target making machine comprising a floating mandrel, means forfeeding layers of flexible material and loose stalk material to themandrel for winding thereon to form a target,

and combined compressing means for the loose material and rotating meansfor the target.

5. In a machine of the class described, a support for a roll of flexiblestrip material adapted to be unwound from said roll, power-operatedmeans forwinding up the strip of material in convolute form from saidroll, a receptacle for flexible stalk. material, and power operatedmeans forpacking the stalk material in between is the convolutions ofthe strip material as said convolutions are wound comprising a memberreciprocating between said convolutions.

6. In a machine of the class described, a support for a roll of flexiblestrip material adapted to be unwound from the roll, power-operated meansfor winding up the strip material from the roll intermittently intoconvolute form, a recepta-cle for flexible stalk material, and poweroperated means for packing the stalk material 'in between theconvolutions of the strip material as said convolutions are formedcomprising a member reciprocating between said convolutions andintermittently operated in timed relation to operation of thefirst-mentioned means. 7. In a machine of the class described, a supportfor a roll of flexible strip material adapted to be unwound from theroll, power means for winding up the strip material from the roll inconvolute form, a trough through which said strip material is adapted toextend as it is unwound and adapted to contain flexible stalk materialon top of said strip material, and power means for packing the stalkmaterial in said trough in between the convolutions of the stripmaterial as said convolutions are wound comprising a memberreciprocating between said convolutions and on top of the stalk materialin the trough.

8. In a machine of the class described, a support for a roll of flexiblestrip material adapted to be unwound fromthe roll, means operative towind up said strip material from the roll in convolute form, areceptacle for flexible stalk material, power-operated means for packingthe stalk material intermittently between the convolutions of the stripmaterial as the same are wound comprising a member reciprocating betweensaid convolutions, and means operated by said power means tointermittently operate said wind-up means.

9. In a machine of the class described, an elongated trough forcontaining stalk material, a support at one end of the trough for a rollof flexible strip material, a mandrel at the other end of the troughoperative to wind up the strip material in convolute form from said rollwith the strip between the roll and mandrel extended through the trough,power means for packing the stalk material in between the convolutionsof the strip material as the same are wound including a reciprocatingfeed arm in the trough, and means operated by said power means foroperating said mandrel.

'10. In a machine of the class described, an elongated trough forcontaining stalk material,

a support at one end of the trough for a roll of including areciprocating feed arm in the trough,

. and means operative by said power means for operating said mandrel,said arm coacting with said convolutions to wind up the strip material.

11 In a machine of the class described, a support for a roll of flexiblestrip material adapted to be unwound from the roll, power means forintermittently winding up said strip from the roll in convolute form, athread carrying needle mounted for advance and retraction transverselyof said, convolutions to pass a length of thread convolutions, and arotary snubber around which said 'free end is wound manually to pull thethread tight.

12. vIn a machine of the class described, a support for a roll offlexible strip material adapted to be unwound from the roll, power meansfor intermittently winding up said strip material from the vroll inconvolute form, a thread-carrying needle mounted for advance andretraction :transversely of said convolutions to passa length .of.thread in loop form through the same with one end of the length free,and meansqto engage .and exert a pull on the loops to pull said free endthrough the convolutions comprising a traveling series of hooks.

13. vIn a machine of the class described, power meansior winding a,strip of flexible material in convolute form, a thread-carrying needle,means to mount said needle for advance and retraction transversely ofsaid convolutions for passing a thread therethrough, a motor :drive ,forthe needle normally inefiective, means for releasably locking saidneedleretracted, and pedal-operated means for releasing said needle andrendering said motordrive effective.

14. In a, machine of the class described, means ,for winding a strip offlexible material .into convolute form, a thread carrying needle havinga pin thereon, means to -mount said needle for advance and retractiontransversely of said. convolutions for passing a thread ,therethrough, amotor drive for advancing and retracting said needle x1101- mallyineffective, a pivoted locking bar for said needle interlockingwith'said pinto lock saidneedle each time the same is retracted andswingable to unlock said needle, manual means for swinging the bar-tounlock the needle, and means operated by such swinging of said bar torender the motor efiective.

15. In a machine of the class described, means -for winding up a, stripof flexible material into convolute form, a thread-carrying needlehaving a pin thereon, means to mount said needle .for advance andretraction transversely of said convolutions for passing a threadtherethrough, .a pivoted locking bar for said needle interlocking withsaid pin each time the needle is retracted and swingable to unlock saidneedle, pedal-operated means for swinging said bar, and a motor drivefor advancing and retracting the needle when unlocked.

BEN PEARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Fuchs -Nov. 13, .1934

